ToyotaTercel1987Overview/toyota/tercel/1987/base/

1987 Toyota Tercel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Tercel.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1987 Toyota Tercel arrived with an automatic 3-speed transmission and EPA fuel-economy ratings of 25 city, 31 highway, and 27 combined mpg, and its routine oil service calls for 3.2 quarts of 15W-40, 20W-40, or 20W-50 API SL oil. Reliability records for this model year list 15 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and the gasoline fuel system as the top reported concern. Those figures fall outside the 1990–2000 model-complaint window, which peaked at 59 complaints in 1995 and bottomed out at a single complaint in 2000, so the 1987 Tercel predates the model's most troubled tracked period and carries a comparatively low complaint footprint.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SLOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy25/31/27 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length157.5 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight2024 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 31 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Tercel of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.4–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.40 sec — 1995 DX Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991LE Sedan 1.5L I-411.10 sec18.20 sec82 hpFWD
1992Coupe 1.5L I-411.10 sec18.20 sec82 hpFWD
1995DX Coupe 1.5L I-410.40 sec17.50 sec93 hpFWD
1995DX Sedan 1.5L I-411.20 sec18.40 sec93 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.2 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SL engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.1 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
At 30,000 miThrottle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 40,000 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record supplied covers only model years 1990 through 2000, with no entries for 1987 or any earlier Tercel years. Consequently, there are no complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB figures available for the target 1987 model to compare with preceding or subsequent years. Because the data set does not include the 1987 year, it is impossible to discern whether complaints or recalls were rising, falling, or stable across the generation at that point. Without specific numbers for 1987, any assertion about a known issue or trend would be speculative and unsupported by the provided information. Therefore, based solely on this federal record, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the 1987 Toyota Tercel is a good or bad year to buy; additional sources would be needed for a reliable assessment.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
18
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
15
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 15 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Tires1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train1
Power Train1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E064000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 27/08/2007

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

92V111000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 13/07/1992

THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS. Remedy: TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS"…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tercel. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Tercel take?

3.2 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SL, ABOVE -10 degrees F 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SL, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Tercel have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tercel get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 31 highway / 27 combined mpg.